Beavers climb back into series with T-Birds (photos added)

The Blind River Beavers showed the Soo Thunderbirds that they weren't about to give up.

The Thunderbirds guaranteed that a different team will show up to face the Beavers on Wednesday night.

Backed by two goal efforts from Ken Reid and Jason Wiley, the Beavers defeated the Thunderbirds 4-2 on Monday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre to climb back into the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League western division semi-finals.

The Thunderbirds lead the series 2-1 with game four scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rhodes. Game five will go Thursday night in Blind River.

"They are a team that is not going to quit and we know that," said Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs. "We just didn't respond. We were looking at going up 3-0 in the series and our guys just weren't ready to play from the beginning until the end. We're an old enough team to understand what they playoffs mean and how to prepare and get ready and respond.

"That was our worst game in the last month. I have to apologize to the people who showed up about the way we played. This was our biggest crowd of the season. I can tell you that on Wednesday night in game four, it will be a different Thunderbird hockey club. They will respond and will come back. They will work harder and they will be more disciplined or they won't play."

The Beavers were able to use a strong forecheck and utilize their speed to catch the Thunderbirds scrambling in the third period.

With the Thunderbirds leading 2-1 heading into the final period, the Beavers jumped all over the Soo with Reid scoring at the 6:00 mark to tie the game.

Thunderbirds goaltender Michael Maulucci made the stop on Reid's shot but Maulucci's backward momentum carried him and the puck into the net past the goal line for the score.

Jason Wiley then scored his second of the game at 10:37 before Reid salted away the win with his second goal at 13:47.

"We talked about shutting down their top players and in the first two games we didn't do that but tonight we did a good job. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what we need to do. (Matt) Caria, (Jacob) Lalonde and (Matt) Dias are the best line in the league and they're all just 16 years old but you have to watch them," said Beavers head coach Jim Capy.

"We were down 2-1 heading into the third and they showed me that they want to win this series. I think we're a confident group right now."

Jacob Lalonde, who was the best Thunderbird on Monday night, gave the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead at 4:45 of the second period before Wiley scored his first at 11:53.

Kyle Jones gave the Thunderbirds the lead heading into the third period when his weak shot found its way through traffic with the Soo enjoying a five-on-three power play.

Brock Lees made his second start of the series for the Beavers and had an outstanding game, making several big saves in the first two periods.

"For the last month and a half, Brock has been very effective. He had a bad streak earlier in the year when (Kevin King) was hurt but he has bounced back and has played very well. We'll go with Brock until Brock has a bad game," said Capy.

Blind River outshot the Thunderbirds 23-22.

Lalonde also added an assist for the Thunderbirds while Matt Buha and Thomas Laplante set up a pair for the Beavers.

*** NOJHL PLAYOFFS:

QUARTERFINALS:

WESTERN DIVISION:

2. BLIND RIVER vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS

(Soo leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Soo 4 Blind River 2 Game 2 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Soo 6 Blind River 5 (OT) Game 3 - Mon. Mar. 21 - Blind River 4 Soo 2 Game 4 - Wed. Mar. 23 - Blind River vs. Soo Game 5 - Thur. Mar. 24 - Soo vs. Blind River * Game 6 - Sat. Mar. 26 - Blind River vs. Soo * Game 7 - Mon. Mar. 28 - Soo vs. Blind River

(* if necessary)

1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 4. MANITOULIN

(Northern Michigan wins series 4-0)

Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - Northern Michigan 10 Manitoulin 2 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - Northern Michigan 12 Manitoulin 2 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Northern Michigan 13 Manitoulin 1 Game 4 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Northern Michigan 6 Manitoulin 0

EASTERN DIVISION:

1. NORTH BAY vs. 4. SUDBURY

(North Bay leads series 3-1)

Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - North Bay 7 Sudbury 3 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - North Bay 4 Sudbury 1 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Sudbury 5 North Bay 4 (OT) Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 20 - North Bay 9 Sudbury 1 Game 5 - Tue. Mar. 22 - Sudbury vs. North Bay * Game 6 - Wed. Mar. 23 - North Bay vs. Sudbury * Game 7 - Fri. Mar. 25 - Sudbury vs. North Bay

2. ABITIBI vs. 3. RAYSIDE BALFOUR

(Abitibi leads series 3-0)

Game 1 - Mon. Mar. 14 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 2 Game 2 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Abitibi 6 Rayside Balfour 5 (OT) Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 0 Game 4 - Thu. Mar. 24 - Abitibi vs. Rayside Balfour * Game 5 - Sat. Mar. 26 - Rayside Balfour vs. Abitibi * Game 6 - Sun. Mar. 27 - Abitibi vs. Rayside Balfour * Game 7 - Mon. Mar. 28 - Rayside Balfour vs. Abitibi

***

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)